Removing an explosive substance for reprocessing

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for removing an explosive substance for reprocessing heats a heat carrier to a melting point of a fusible component of the explosive substance, the heated heat carrier being a liquid having a density less than a density of any component of the explosive substance. The heated heat carrier is jetted onto a surface of the explosive substance for removing another component of the explosive substance from the surface in a suspension. The suspension is added to a separator filled with the heated heat carrier. When a weight limit of the explosive substance in the separator is reached, the mixture in the separator is stabilized and precipitated by holding in the separator for at least 10 minutes. A predetermined weight of melted trotyl is added to the mixture in the separator and the mixture mixed to a homogeneous mass for discharge.

The claimed technical solution relates to the field of ammunitionutilization and in particular, to removing explosive substancesconsisting of a mixture of fusible and non-fusible components from acasing and simultaneously preparing explosive compositions of apredetermined formulation on the basis of extracted materials.

A method is known in the related art to be used for discardingammunition, said method being based on removing explosive substancesfrom an ammunition casing by supplying a liquid heat-carrier that isinert with respect to the components of explosive substances, into thecasing under a pressure of 0.1 to 20 atm and at a temperature of 80 to130° C. through a nozzle (RF Patent 2,056,035, Int. Cl. F42B 33/00,publ. 1996).

This method is suitable for removing a charge of explosive substancesfrom ammunition, but it does not provide for separation of theheat-carrier from the explosive substances being removed, and this leadsto accumulation of explosive substances in the heat-carrier and enhancesthe danger of the discarding process as well as does not allow to usethe heat-carrier many times in the technlogical cycle. In addition, thismethod cannot be used to prepare an explosive composition of apredetermined formulation.

Also, a method is known in the related art to be used for utilization ofwaste materials containing mixed solid fuel, said method providing formixing a liquid industrial explosive substance with a predeterminedquantity of waste materials (PCT/US94/00406, Int. Cl. C06B 17/14, publ.1994).

The above method allows to solve a particular problem. A mixed solidfuel is mixed with brisant explosive substances to produce therebyhigh-energy compositions.

The above method for removing a charge of explosive substances does notsolve the problem of removing explosive substances from ammunitioncasings and preparing industrial explosive substances on their basis.

Besides, a method is also known in the related art to be used fordestruction of articles made of explosive substances with simultaneousutilization of these explosive substances, said method consisting inthat working medium is supplied onto the surface of an article made ofexplosive substances at a temperature of 30 to 180° C. and underpressure of 0.01 to 10,000 kg/cm², and the resulting mixture of theworking medium with the article destruction products is jointlyprocessed into granules or castings of an industrial explosive substancehaving a predetermined oxygen balance.

As such working medium, use is made of melted or suspended ammoniumnitrate and/or carbamide with purposive additives, wherein used as suchare sodium nitrate,or mineral oil, or metallic powders,or water,orparaffine and mineral oil (RF Patent 1,795,962, Int.Cl. G06B 21/00,publ. 1993—the most relevant prior art prototype).

The above method has a number of disadvantages.

The working medium is continuously consumed and is included in thecomposition of the industrial explosive substance thus being prepared.The most efficient removal of explosive substances from ammunitioncasings, as shown by discarding investigations at pressures of 0.01 to10 kg/cm², is accomplished at modulus 1 . . . 50 . . . 100, i.e., inorder to remove 1 kg of explosive substances, it is necessary tointroduce 50 . . . 100 kg of the working medium into an ammunitioncasing. If fresh working medium is used at all times, it will be thenneeded in large quantities.

For instance, in order to remove 1.5 t of trotyl from an aviation bombCalibre 3000, it is necessary to use 105 t of working medium, and thisinvoles a substantial power consumption.

The problem of separating the explosive substances from the workingmedium is not solved by the above method.

And, wash-out by the working medium containing the extracted explosivesubstance is dangerous. Solid additives (metallic powders, carbamides),if added, also enhance the danger of the removal process.

The above method also does not solve the problem of proportions betweenvarious components included in an industrial explosive substance.

Equipment (apparatuses) are known in the related art to be used forcarrying out a process of discarding ammunition of artillery and othertypes (British Patent No. 139207, Int. Cl. F42B 33/06—the most relevantprior art prototype).

In this equipment, a pump and a nozzle are arranged to be disposed sothat water from a collector flows to the nozzle and then from the nozzleinto shells which are located each under an individual nozzle. Anofftake channel located lower than a shell holder provides a dischargeof the water flow containing ingredients of the bursting charge indissolved condition or in a form of suspension. A settling chamber andan overflow pipe are arranged to be disposed between the offtake channeland the water collector for catching heavier particles and for receivingthe discharged water flow containing water-soluble compounds.

This equipment possesses the following disadvantages.

As a result of a leaky connection between the nozzle and the casing ofthe article being washed out and existence of open offtake channels andapparatuses, there takes place an ejection of water vapours and removedexplosive substance vapours into the room, and this sharply affectsecological and sanitary environment.

Evacuation of the removed explosive substance from the settling chamberis impeded, and adequate purification of water is not ensured.

The removed explosive substance in the settling chamber has a highmoisture content, and this hampers its repeated use and leads to thenecessity of explosion and fire hazardous drying.

It is impossible to prepare an explosive composition of a predeterminedformulation on the basis of the extracted explosive substance.

All the disadvantages of the most relevant prior art prototype arenon-existent in the claimed technical solution.

Extraction is carried out with the use of a neutral heat-carrier which,after it removes the explosive substance out of the ammunition casing,is separated from the explosive substance and, being pure, is recycledto the casing.

Thus, the working medium is practically not consumed during thewashing-out process. The same working medium can be used for severalmonths of continuous operation.

During the washing-out and separation process, evaporation of meltedtrotyl is avoided due to leak-proofness of pipelines and apparatuses.

The disclosed method is realized by means of a device (separator) whichensures the separation of explosive substance and working medium.

Wash-out by a pure working inedium that is neutral to explosivesubstances, is a safe process. The bulk of extracted explosivesubstances is continuously weighed. Thus, their proportion iscontinuously maintained.

When creating the present invention, a problem was posed to develop anefficient and no-waste technique for extracting and processing explosivesubstances while making it simultaneously more ecologically favourableby incorporating therein a number of operations and by including noveldesign features in the device.

When carrying out the group of inventions directed at such a subjectmatter as “Method”, the technical result is attainable owing to that theexplosive substances are removed out of the casing by supplying aninert, liquid and pressurized heat-carrier heated to a predeterminedtemperature onto the surface of said explosive substances through amovable nozzle, whereupon the charge destruction product is processedinto an industrial explosive substance.

The removal of explosive substances out of the ammunition casing iscarried out due to a heat transfer from the working mediuim to thecharge and a wash-out of the softened explosive substance out of thecasing. Processing of the resulting mixture consists in the following:

the mixture of the extracted explosive substance and the heat-carrier iscontinuously precipitated and weighed in the process of accumulating thesediment within the separator;

as soon as a predetermined loading weight is reached in the separator,the supply of the heat-carrier and the removal of the explosivesubstance are interrupted;

the heat-carrier is clarified in the separator by settling;

a predetermined quantity of melted trotyl is added thereto;

the melted heat-carrier is drained from the separator until apredetermined level is reached therein;

the mixture remaining in the separator is then kneaded until ahomogeneous composition is obtained, whereupon it is drained into acollector for melted explosive substances.

The claimed method is realized by means of a device which has thedistinguishing features thereof consisting in the following:

the separator is mounted on scales and comprises a mixing device and aflow stabilizer connected to a discharge duct;

a supply device for the liquid heat-carrier is made in the form of ahollow movable bar with a nozzle;

the separator is connected to the collector for the finished product viaa bottom discharge connection and to the supply device for the liquidheat-carrier via two lateral connections, wherein the lower lateraldischarge connection is positioned relative to said bottom connection ata level determined from the formula: ${H = \frac{V_{1} + V_{2}}{S}},$

 where

V₁=volume occupied by the extracted explosive substance and the dose oftrotyl;

V₂=volume occupied by the remaining melted heat-carrier after discharge;and

S=cross-section of the separator;

the discarge duct is connected to a trotyl melter;

the flow stabilizer is made so as to have a slotted outlet within thelower portion thereof, arranged concentrically with the separator wall;

the joints of the flow stabilizer, bottom connection and lateralconnections with external ducts are made flexible and hermeticallysealed;

the supply device for the heat-carrier is located lower than the lowerlateral discharge connection and has a capacity that is larger than thevolume of heat-carrier discharged from the separator.

As a result of continuous weight control of the sediment bulk, itbecomes possible to prepare an explosive composition of a predeterminedformulation from the sediment.

The separator is mounted on the scales and comprises a mixing device anda flow stabilizer connected to the discharge duct, and this allows toensure a reduction in the velocity and turbulence of the suspendedexplosive substance and paraffine flow draining off into the separator.In this case, the conditions improve for precipitation of explosivesubstance components in the separator.

Existence of the weighing device enables to monitor continuously thesediment in the settler in order to interrupt the process of removingthe explosive substance from the ammunition as soon as a designedquantity thereof is accumulated.

Design features of the separator ensure favourable conditions fordischarging the composition thus prepared into the collector for themelted explosive substances, the heat-carrier —into the supply devicefor supplying it into the annumition casing, and the metered dose ofmelted trotyl—into the separator.

The flow stabilizer has a slatted outlet within the lower portionthereof, arranged concentrically with the wall, and this ensures areduction in the velocity and eliminates the turbulence of thedraining-off flow, thus creating favourable conditions for precipitationof the suspended explosive substances within the bottom portion of theseparator.

The joints of the flow stabilizer, bottom connection and lateralconnections with external ducts are made flexible and hermeticallysealed, thereby eliminating any influence of rigid links on operation ofthe scales as well as emission of noxious substances into the room.

The device for discarding ammunition is illustrated by the drawingspresented in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows a general view of the device, and

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along line II—II.

The device (FIG. 1) comprises a hopper 1 with an inlet funnel 2, asupply device 3 for a liquid heat-carrier 4, a separator 5, a dischargeduct a, a collector 7 for a melted finished product 8, and a weightmeasuring device 9 with sensors.

The supply device 3 for the liquid heat-carrier comprises a movablehollow bar 10 with a perforated nozzle 11, and a duct 12, and it isconnected to the inlet funnel 2 which is also coupled with the dischargeduct 6. The movable bar 10 with the nozzle 11 executes alternatelyreciprocating and back-and-forth rotational motions.

The discharge duct 6 is connected through a flexible joint 13 to theseparator 5 and comprises a flow stabilizer 14 (FIG. 2). A supply pipe15 is inserted into the discharge duct 6 to supply doses of meltedtrotyl from a melter 16.

The separator 5 is connected to the sensors of the weight measuringdevice 9 and provided with a mixing device 17 as well as with an upperlateral connection 18, a lower lateral connection 19 and a bottomconnection 20. Through the lateral connections 18, 19 and flexiblejoints, the separator 5 is connected to the supply device 3 for theheat-carrier, and through the bottom connecticon 20—to the collector 7for the melted finished product.

The device for discarding ammunition comprising mixed charges withsimultaneous production of an explosive substance operates as follows.

A discarded ammunition is prepared for removing the charge therefrom. Indoing so, the removable parts are taken off (covers, plugs), sinkage isrelieved from the threads, and intermediate detonators are withdrawn.

The ammunition thus prepared is placed by means of a hoisting mechanismonto the hopper 1 in an inclined position with it throat down and joinedtightly with the inlet funnel 2 and the discharge duct 6. The bar 10with the perforated nozzle at its end is inserted through the fillingthroat of the ammunition into the ammunition casing.

The reservoir of the supply device 3 for the liquid heat-carrier 4 isfilled up with melted heat-carrier, for instance, paraffine, which isheated up to a temperature of 100 . . . 125° C. The separator 5 is thenweighed, and the value of its weight is zeroed. A predetermined dose oftrotyl is loaded into the melter 16 where it is melted.

This is a final step in preparing equipment of the discarding device tooperation.

The pump drive of then supply device 3 for the liquid heat-carrier 4 isswitched on. The melted heat-carrier 4 is delivered over the pressureduct 12 and bar 10 through the perforated nozzle 11 into the ammunitionchamber. Jets of the heat-carrier wash out the open surface of thecharge. As this takes place, the explosive substance melts and forms acomplex mixture with the heat-carrier, which mixture flows by gravitythrough the inlet funnel 2 and the discharge duct 6 into the separator5. In the flow stabilizer 14 with which the separator 5 is provided, areduction in the liquid flow velocity occurs due to an increase in theflow section in the slotted outlet and to the distribution of the flowover the wall of the separator. This reduces turbulence, thus conducingto the precipitation of the mixed explosive substance components whichhave the density thereof 1.5 to 3 times that of the melted heat-carrier.The separator 5 is filled up with liquid until the upper lateraldischarge connection 18 is reached (every time this happens the lowerlateral connection 19 is closed by its valve).

The melted heat-carrier with a small admixture of the extractedexplosive substance will flow by gravity into the reservoir of thesupply device 3 for the liquid heat-carrier 4, whilst the major bulk ofthe extracted explosive substance is being accumulated in the form ofsediment within the bottom portion of the separator 5. With the help ofthe scales 9, the loading weight of the separator 5 is continuouslymonitored.

As soon as a predetermined weight is reached which has its valuedetermined from the proportions of components in the composition beingprepared, the pump drive of the supply device 3 for the liquidheat-carrier 4 is switched off, and the process of removing theexplosive substance out of the ammunition is interrupted. Aftercompleting the removal of explosive substance, some time is given toallow the liquid to drain off completely from the ducts, and theheat-carrier to clarify by precipitating fine fraction of the extractedexplosive substance suspended therein. Then a valve is opened on thepipe 15, and a predetermined dose of the melted trotyl is dischargedinto the separator 5. In so doing, an excess of the heat-carrier 4 isdisplaced out of the separator through the upper lateral connection 18into the reservoir of the supply device 3 for the liquid heat-carrier 4.After this, the valve is opened on the lower lateral dischargeconnection 19 of the separator 5.

The heat-carrier drains off from the separator 5 into the reservoir ofthe supply device 3 for the liquid heat-carrier until the level isreached therein as defined by the location of the connection 19. In theseparator, a mixture is formed from the components, consisting of thesediment of the extracted explosive substance, the dose of melted trotyland the remaining melted heat-carrier and corresponding to thepredetermined content of these components in the explosive composition 8being prepared.

The valve is then closed on the connection 19, and the drive of themixing device 17 is switched on. The components of the explosivecomposition 9 are then kneaded until a homogeneous composition isobtained. Next, the valve is opened on the bottom connection 20, and thecomposition 8 thus prepared is discharged into the collector 7 for themelted explosive substances. Further, the mixture is delivered from thecollector 7 for subsequent processing, for instance, granulation. Theflexible and hermetically sealed joints 13 of the ducts and apparatuseseliminate emission of noxious substances into the room and any influenceof rigid links on the results of weighing.

Removal of the charge from the ammunition is continued until its casingis absolutely empty, by repeating the cycles of preparing the explosivecomposition of a predetermined formulation.

So, the explosive composition thus being prepared will include asediment of the extracted explosive substance removed from theammunition being discarded, melted trotyl and melted heat-carrier, forinstance, paraffine. The quantities of trotyl and heat-carrier to beintroduced will depend on the proportions of components in the charge ofthe ammunition being discarded and are to be determined by means of acalculation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for removing and reprocessing mixedexplosive substances, removed from ammunition, wherein the methodcomprises: heating an inert heat carrier to a melting point of a fusiblecomponent included in a formulation of an explosive substance to beremoved, and supplying the inert heat carrier under pressure into anammunition casing onto a surface of the explosive substance, whereinsaid heat carrier has a density which is less than the density of eachcomponent of the explosive substance, filling a separator with the inertheat carrier, the separator being provided with first, second, third andfourth connections mounted from the top downwards in respect to theheight of the separator to a level of the first connection, anddetermining the weight of said heat carrier, continuously supplying amixture of the removed explosive substance and the inert heat carrierinto the separator through the third connection in a turbulent flow inwhich the removed explosive substance is in a suspended state, whereinan upper layer of the inert heat carrier in a volume equal to a volumeof the supplied mixture is continuously drained from the separatorthrough the first connection, subjecting the mixture in the separator tostabilization, precipitation and continuous weighment, setting an upperlimit to a weight of the mixture of the explosive substance and theinert heat carrier in the separator, and when said limit is reachedinterrupting the supply of the inert heat carrier into the ammunitioncasing and accordingly said mixture into the separator, holding acontent of the separator for at least 10 minutes, wherewith the inertheat carrier is separated from the explosive substance, adding to theseparator melted trotyl through the third connection, simultaneouslydischarging an amount of inert heat carrier equal a volume of the trotylfrom the separator through the first connection, and then dischargingseparated and clarified inert heat carrier through the second connectionto form a mixture of explosive substance and trotyl, mixing the mixtureof explosive substance and trotyl to obtain a homogeneous mass, anddischarging from the separator through the fourth connection thehomogeneous mass into an additional vessel for subsequent reprocessing.2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the melting point of thefusible component included in the formulation of the explosive substanceto be removed is within a range of from 100° C. to 125° C.
 3. A devicefor removing and reprocessing mixed explosive substances removed from anammunition casing, comprising a separator provided with a housing and amixing device and mounted on scales, first, second, third and fourthconnections mounted on the separator along its height, respectively,wherein the first connection, mounted on a side wall of the separator,serves for discharging clarified heat carrier, the second connection,mounted on a side wall of the separator, serves for dischargingseparated heat carrier, the third connection, mounted on a side wall ofthe separator, serves for receiving a mixture of heat carrier andremoved mixed explosive substances, and the fourth connection, mountedin the bottom of the separator, serves for discharging an obtainedmixture, a stabilizer mounted in the separator opposite said thirdconnection in a form of a slot funnel, a vessel for the heat carrier,which is provided with a housing and pump, a nozzle with a hollow bar,communicating by means of a pressure duct with a pump and serving tofeed heated heat carrier under pressure into the ammunition casing ontoa surface of the mixed explosive substances, an inlet funnel for joiningto a neck of the ammunition casing, a discharge duct for connecting theinlet funnel to the third connection, a vessel for preparing an amountof melted trotyl, connected by means of a branch pipe to the dischargeduct, a collector for receiving the obtained mixture, connected to thefourth connection, wherein the second connection is positioned relativeto the fourth connection at a level determined from the equation:$H = \frac{{V1} + {V2}}{S}$

wherein V1 is volume occupied in the separator by removed mixedexplosive substances and the amount of melted trotyl, V2 is volumeoccupied by the heat carrier after the discharges of the separated andclarified heat carriers, S is the cross section of the separator.